68
WEST SHORE.
MY OL' DAD.
Howlwishtthetm'ol' daddy
Cud comeback hyer jest t'niglit!
See me togged up, peert V sassy,
Cheeks 8' red 'n' eyes s' bright ;
Dancin' hyer afore th' footlights,
Queen of uh vari'ty show ;
Wudn't he be mighty tickled?
Lawsy! Bet! I tell yuh bo!
Ust ter wear er pink sun bnnnit,
Wen I was er little gell,
Runnin' out t' dad t noontime,
Toatin' water from th' well.
How 'is ol' blue eyes 'ud sparkul,
Wen h'ed ketch me this-a-way,
' N ' cry " Ho ! m' pink sun bunnit I
Want t' ride up awn th' hay ? "
Then be'd boost me awn th' wag'n,
With 'n " Oopee daisy, pet I "
'N' I'd cuddle In th' tim'thy,
Ther' t' worry, fume 'n' fret ;
'N'm'dad 'ud whoop th' horses,
Moppin' off 'Is wrinkled brow,
With 'is queer old yaller hankcher
I kin almos' see 'm now I
Then I'd fuss 'n' scream V giggle,
Holdln' awn t' 'is coat tail;
"Now, yuh dad ! Yuh hoi" them hones ! "
I'd cry out, all start 'n'pale;
Then he'd holler, laugliin, " Whoa, ther'!
Whoa ! Yuh Dock ! 'n' yuh, ol' Bill !
Dob' yuh know yur little miuui
Is aleard she'll git er spill?"
Uwiyl Lawsyl M'ol' daddy
lies been dead nigh fifteen year,
'N' I've hed seth hard times, tell yuh ;
Iong time senoe I sited er tear.
U't I witht ' cud come back hyer,
See nie dressed up, spick 'u' span,
Klow'rs 'n' feathers wher' the bunnit
Ust ter keep off all th' tan.
Mebbe, though, 'e wudn't know me,
'N"t 'most 'ud break m' heart,
Kf 'e shud look disapprovin',
After all these years uhpart !
'Kraid Uiis glare 'ud hurt 'Is ol' eyes,
'N'tliis music din 'is ears;
'Kraid I cmln't see 'is wrinkles
'Cause m' eyes 's full o' tears.
" Walt till yuh grow up, m' petty! "
Dad, 'e olten uit ter say ;
" 'N' yuh'll marry some rich laddie
Ai'll drees yuh peert 'n' gay."
Poor, ol' dad !-I've got th' dressin',
Sat'ns, silks V jewels-yet
What's Uiet? " Look er little brighter? "-
Don' I ruMIcudfergetl
Kl.U HlUUlXiON.